I think most of us, when we travel abroad, have noticed some cool or just different things that we have never seen before. Rather, it may be something super extraordinary, unique, or something useless. However, we also are so used to some specific things that we have in our home countries that every time we travel abroad and can’t find them, well, it makes things more complicated.
If you are confused about what it’s all about, recently, one Reddit user posed a question online asking folks to share one product from their home country that they are surprised is not worldwide yet. The products vary from dish drying cabinets to specific food, so scroll through them, upvote your favorites and share things from your home country that should be worldwide!
More info: Reddit
#1
In New Zealand we have a thing called ACC ( accident compensation corporation) which is a public body that pays for hospital care, physiotherapy etc if you get injured. It is also written into our law that you can’t sue someone if you get injured.
The effect of this is that:
1) people get quicker and better quality care, and the focus is on recovery
2) you don’t have to sue someone for minor accidents that lead to disproportionate injuries (eg tripping on a public footpath and breaking your leg)
3) people don’t get injured then try to profit from it by suing for stupid amounts of money
4) we don’t have predatory lawyers trying to make money out of injuries, and none of those ‘were you injured and it wasn’t your fault’ adverts everywhere etc.
I don’t know all of the figures but my gut feeling is that this is a more efficient and better quality system than what many other countries have.
Image source: Guppy1985, wiki commoms
#2
Toilets with pedals instead of levers so you don’t have to touch anything with your hands
Image source: youburyitidigitup, u/supercalliefragislit
#3
The NHS.
Walk into a hospital, get fixed and leave without worrying about paying, I’ve nothing more to say.
Image source: Dodel1976, Leimenide
#4
Kinda not a product but – **bottle recycling machine/reverse vending machine** (?lol) Basically when you buy a drink in a bottle/can, you pay a little “pawn fee” (like 20 cents) and when you later go put the empty bottle/can in the machine you get the fee back. We usually collect the bottles until there is like 6 bags and then go cash out like 16€ at once. Its pretty neat. It encourages recycling!:)
EDIT: This is how they look like! I’m glad to read from comments it’s a thing in so many more countries! More info: Cans and bottles have different fees. You insert the bottles/cans one by one, bottom first, the machine has to read a certain symbol on the packaging otherwise it wont go in. There is usually a worker on the other side making sure it doesnt overfill. They are fairly clean and there is usually a sink in the room. In the last few years, there have been newer machines where you can just dump your entire bag into the machine and it does the whole sorting on its own. And to those who were interested, I am from Estonia :)
Image source: rarelulu, postiimage
#5
Stroopwafels
Image source: jujubeanieman, Rex Roof
#6
Bakfietsen (bikes with a kind of wheelbarrow front for carrying kids or groceries). I’ve seen a few bakfietsen in the states lately which is cool. But without dedicated bike lanes I would guess carrying kids in them would be a terrible idea.
Image source: plumpynutbar, u/youreannie
#7
Bidet. I cannot believe they are not more popular in the US! They can be very inexpensive, and it was a quality of life type change.
Image source: wrighterjw10, Patrick van IJzendoorn
#8
Meat pies such as Steak and cheese, bacon and egg, classic mince, lamb & mint, potato top. all in lovely pastry served in a white paper bag, gotta love NZ
Image source: Longjumping-Ad-226, Ruth Ellison
#9
Italy. Tapparelle.
They’re essentially roll up plastic blinds for the windows, but instead of simply being curtains they’re actually inserted in a crease in the wall, so that no light can pass through when they’re down. You can actually easily recognize an Italian home interior if you see a window with a flat vertical rope on one side an a big boxy *thing* at the top.
How well do they work? When all tapparelle are down, the house is *dark*. Complete, utter darkness. The sun could be shining right against the window, and you wouldn’t know. When you wake up, it’s like waking up in a void of nothingness. No sign of life, **nothing** outside your walls. It makes for quality sleeping, that’s for sure.
Other perks include: privacy for when you undress and safety against strong winds.
EDIT: Tapparella fixing tutorial with example (at one point the tapparella is completely down and you can see how no light passes through from outside)
Image source: TinTamarro, gualtiero
#10
As an American who lived in France for a year in college, I am really surprised that late night European style kebab joints aren’t really a thing that has taken off yet here.
Image source: ceejay955, u/Deslexia
#11
I wish towel radiators and bidets would catch on more in America
Image source: Middle_Height, jj hwang
#12
Sourdough rye bread. Freshly baked with butter… So good! Great taste, great nution and good for the digestion.
Image source: lavipeDK, Vilnis Husko
#13
Still amazed that my US friends don’t regularly use electric tea kettles. My friend was tickled pink that I sent her one for Christmas.
Image source: Nurannoniel, Lisa Fotios
#14
The pasty.
As a concept it’s food designed to be eaten on the go that’s contained and resists dropping the contents all over the floor as you eat it. It’s crust can be used to hold the food if you have dirty hands or the contents are hot and the crust can be discarded afterwards guilt free because it’s biodegradable.
Image source: Diocletion-Jones, wiki commons
#15
Finland – dish drying cabinet.
Image source: noetkoett, Wikimedia Commons
#16
Pålægschokolade (Denmark) – thin sheets of dark or milk chocolate to eat on your breakfast bun over a thick layer of butter.
Image source: Turbulent-Bar-6103, u/Stidsholt_Funday
#17
For the US, biscuits and gravy. Every single person I have introduced to it, fell in love. For whatever reason, I found British people go absolutely bonkers for it. One co-worker in London Skyped with my wife so she could walk him through the gravy.
Edit: yes, Americans mean something very different by “biscuits” and “gravy”. Also, no they are not scones. Buttermilk biscuits are much softer and richer. I’ve found no exact counterpart in Europe. Sort of between a scone and a croissant.
Image source: My_browsing, u/elundeen
#18
From India: cardamom. I know the spice is not exclusive to India, but I’m surprised it’s not used in more applications. I’ve had cardamom infused cocktails in the past (mojitos, margs, etc.) and they are absolutely incredible. I’m surprised it hasn’t taken off in the world of mixology at the very least.
Image source: vchengap, edenink
#19
Not my home country, but heated vending machines from Japan
Image source: babyfuzzina, DancingBacons
#20
Tablet from Scotland. It’s like fudge but more. So much more.
Image source: major_grooves, u/whipped-desserts
#21
Just got back from England. America needs halloumi fries!!
Image source: altimage, u/kayla_mincerepublic
#22
Biltong!
Image source: SilvDeVill, wiki commons
#23
Cream Cheese. I visited a very nice newer all inclusive in Central America. They had bagels but no cream cheese. I inquired if they had some and everyone in the kitchen had never heard of it. As I ate breakfast a manager found me at my table and started asking questions about it. I told him it wasn’t a big deal but he had to know so that they could have it for future guests. I wish I was there to see them taste it.
Image source: GodToldMeToPostThis, Brian Boucheron
#24
So if you order a whisky in Scotland, if the place is anywhere decent they will give you a wee jug of water so you can add a drop or two to open it up as required. I’ve not had that once anywhere else, and I’ve leaned from experience to explicitly say “no ice” in the US. So, that wee water jug.
Image source: renebelloche, angelsshareglass
#25
“Hagelslag”, chocolate sprinkles that, contrary to the American sprinkles which are just brown sugar, contain a minimum amount of actual chocolate.
Image source: Mortlach78, Troy Tolley
#26
Tartiflette, and Raclette nights.
Image source: No_Finish_2144, Johan Simon Seland
#27
Poutine
Image source: Billbapaparazzi, Allison
#28
Irn-Bru (Scotland’s number 1 fizzy drink)
Image source: larrybird977, Mary Hutchison
#29
Root beer and peanut butter
Image source: PNWSwag, Jorge Franganillo
#30
Old Bay and malt vinegar on French fries, seafood, almost anything. Why only Maryland and Virginia? It’s freaking delicious.
Image source: Loveontherockswithno, OLD BAY® Seasoning
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